Prospective, comparative study of cemented, smooth-surfaced titanium stems and polish-surfaced, stainless steel stems at a minimum follow-up of 10 years.

BACKGROUND: Excellent results have been reported with cemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) using both smooth-surfaced and polished-surfaced stems. However, the superiority of polished-surfaced over smooth-surfaced in cemented THA, or vice versa, is still debated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-six smooth-surfaced, triple-tapered, titanium-alloy stem (Group C) and 46 Exeter stems (Group T) have been fixed consecutively at different periods at our institute and prospectively evaluated clinically and radiologically. The area and location demonstrating cortical hypertrophy (CH) was measured in the serial radiograph and compared. RESULTS: The mean postoperative follow-up period was 12.4 years for group C and 10.8 years for group T. No significant difference of clinical results was found between both groups. CH was observed in 8 hips (18.6%) of group C and in 7 hips (17.1%) of group T (NS). Among the hips in which distribution of CH was observed at the medial side, a significantly low proportion belonged to group C (adjusted standardized residual = - 2.3) and a significantly high proportion belonged to group T (adjusted standardized residual = 2.3). The largest area of CH found in each group was 166.1 mm2 in group C and 227.6 mm2 in group T (NS). The peak location of CH was 100.4% in group C and 84.3% in group T (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Medium-term results of both stems were excellent. CH was observed medially and proximally in group T and laterally and distally in group C.

A case report of idiopathic iliopsoas hematoma which occurred soon after transfer to the wheelchair after total hip arthroplasty.

A 79-year-old woman was diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the left hip and scheduled for total hip arthroplasty. As two lesions were detected in branches of the coronary arteries, she was treated with catheter treatment. The patient was receiving anticoagulant treatment, which was suspended eight days before the operation; however, heparin was started at 6 days before the operation and was stopped 9 hours before the operation. On the 2nd postoperative day soon after transfer to the wheel chair, she was feeling unwell and was suffering from severe pain in her left buttock and left thigh. Her blood pressure had decreased to 70 mmHg. During abdominal contrast-enhanced CT, a hematoma was detected in the left iliopsoas muscle. Catheter therapy was started by the cardiovascular department and bleeding had stopped spontaneously. The patient was able to walk with a cane and was discharged on the 40th postoperative day. ABBREVIATIONS: THA: total hip arthroplasty, CT: computed tomography, JOA score: Japanese Orthopaedic Association hip score, HA: hydroxyapatite, PMMA: polymethyl-methacrylate, APTT: activated partial thromboplastin time.

Monitoring of blood pressure during total hip arthroplasty using the interface bioactive bone cement (IBBC) technique.

BACKGROUND: Cement implantation syndrome, which is characterized by hypotension, hypoxemia, and cardiac arrhythmia or arrest, has been reported in the literature. The purpose of the present study was to monitor the blood pressure changes that occur after cementing during primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). METHODS: The present study examined 178 cases in which 204 joints were treated with primary THA. Study subjects had a mean age at the time of surgery of 64.5 years (range 35-89). Under general anesthesia, both hip components were cemented in place using an anterolateral approach. After cementing, systolic arterial blood pressure was measured at 1-min intervals for 5 min and then again at 10 min. The maximum regulation ratio (MRR) was calculated as follows: (maximum change in blood pressure - blood pressure before cement application) divided by blood pressure before cement application. RESULTS: No major complications, such as cardiac arrest, occurred in most cases; blood pressure increased until 4 mins on the acetabular side and until 2 min on the femoral side, and then gradually returned to the level observed prior to cement application. On the acetabular side, the mean MRR was 11.2 % [standard deviation (SD): 15.9; range -26 to -80], whereas it was 6.4 % (SD: 14.9; range -31 to -65) on the femoral side. Correlations were detected between MRR classification on the acetabular side and the subject's age at the time of the operation or bleeding control status on the acetabular side. When bleeding control was judged as complete, the tendency for blood pressure to decrease was reduced. Conversely, when bleeding control was judged as good, blood pressure showed a greater tendency to decrease. CONCLUSION: In the present study, no episodes of major hypotension occurred. During THA involving the interface bioactive bone cement (IBBC) technique, when bleeding control on the acetabular side was judged as complete the tendency for blood pressure to decrease was reduced.